Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Letter B

B is for Barbie Doll


I’m sure the majority of us females and maybe even some males had or enjoyed playing with the very popular blonde doll known worldwide as Barbie. Most every girl had at least one Barbie with many many outfits. I used to love playing with my Barbie although dressing her was a task that I usually had to beg my mother or my older sister to do. I always wanted to be as pretty as Barbie and have her wonderful blonde hair. I’d spend hours dressing my Barbie for a day at the beach and take her swimming in the pool and then spend even more time dressing her for the Grand Ball the Ken would take her to that night. I’d root through the drawer in my Barbie suitcase looking for just the right shoes to go dancing in. I’d fix her hair with the tiny pink brush and make her look beautiful. I would then dress Ken in his sparkly silver suit and smooth down his brown plastic head full of hair, set him in the Tonka truck that I borrowed(without permission) from my brother so he could pick Barbie up for their date. They would have a wonderful time and then would spend the night in separate sides in my Barbie case until I took them out again.

Back then I never fully understood the body proportions Barbie had. Yes, I always knew she was very well endowed and had a tiny waist, but she was so pretty. Her clothing never fit right over her boobs but she was so glamorous that I didn’t care. All I knew was that I was going to grow up and be just like Barbie. Today there is much to be said about the glamorous doll and most of it is not good. In today’s society thanks to TV, magazines and huge billboards a girl has to almost starve herself in order for her to think of herself as pretty. If I only knew then, what I know now, I wouldn’t think Barbie is the most beautiful thing ever. To be honest she is grossly disproportioned. Not only are her boob’s waaaaaaaaay too big for her body, but her waist is not even a waist and her height, well it may be good for being an amazon woman but not for the average man. Do I still think Barbie is beautiful? No, in fact I find her a rather disturbing icon for young girls.

The only redeeming fact of the Barbie Doll is that they have now brought out the Barbie for girls who are fighting cancer. Kudos to them for taking away the blonde locks of Barbie and giving her the look that these courageous young girls can relate to!
 


                                                                                    

14 comments:

JoJo said...

I'm sure I had a Barbie and Ken, but I didn't really play with them much, esp. dressing her elegantly. My fave doll was called Triki Miki, b/c she could bend her arms and legs at the elbows and knees. She was about 6" tall and came with a flowered bright orange jumpsuit and groovy 70s boots. She was more like a tomboy.

Jeremy [Retro] said...

i have some vintage barbs in a cabinet... still in their save boxes... well i am not sure where i was going with this.

Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host
Oh No, Let's Go... Crazy

Paula Martin said...

Barbie Dolls hadn't been invented when I was a child! Agree she had a most weird figure though!
A-Z Challenge

Unknown said...

My mother refused to buy me Barbies until one Christmas when I'd worn her down so successfully that she bought me two Barbies - one male, one female, one black one white. Now, when a child wants a Barbie as a gift, I do the same thing :) Please visit our site and, if you like it, join us! We are a new blog. http://citymusecountrymuse2012.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

I used to play Barbie's with my step-sisters and, my Dad hated it! She had the mansion, and the corvette, and everything though! I love the title of your blog! I am now a loyal follower. Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

I played with Barbies all the time. Might explain why I always feel so inadequate. So unrealistic!

(Stopping by from the A to Z Challenge)

Jemima Pett said...

No, I didnt have any Barbie Dolls - just a couple of years too old for them.
Happy AtoZing!

Jemima at Jemima's blog

Unknown said...

I had lots of barbies. I also had a barbie dungeon where I hung them upside down. Loved your post!

Dana Martin said...

I didn't know Mattel made a doll for cancer sufferers. <3 I loved this blog!!!

HeatherL said...

I never gave much thought to the image of Barbie until my daughter was born and then I was all, "NO Barbies Ever!" Except she desperately wanted them. No other doll would and I caved. I'm all for positive role models, but I just made sure she understood that a doll was just a doll. And then I bought her some G.I. Joes and dinosaurs. Guess what she loved the most? The dinos! :)

Rhondi St.Onge Peacock said...

Though I had Barbie dolls I knew from a tween age that a sense of humour would get more attention than the shape I'd never have. Ya Gotta Laugh About It!

I really enjoyed your post. Love your writing style :)

Just popped in from the A-Z Challenge. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

I had a box of barbies, I used to set up their house...arranging things and carpets and whatever and once that was done I would grow bored and put them away. Fun post!

Empty Nest Insider said...

One of my saddest days was when my mom gave all of my Barbies away. I came home one day, and even her camper and townhouse were gone. Of course I was in college at the time, but I really wanted to save them. This was fun, and it's nice to meet you through A to Z! I'm a new follower.

Julie

Unknown said...

I was a sindy girl, but totally get where you are coming from. great post.